Inside Door Handle

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I will give it a try. If I can't get one off I plan to pull the worst door and grind the other end of the rod so it can be pulled out with the rod in place. It won't matter for a master to make a mold.

Hank

[Marv]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Hank I have had good results using a 50/50 mixture of transmission fluid and Acetone. Place the door with the outside surface up and squirt the mixture on the handle where it connects. After a couple of days drive the pin out and squirt oil on the handle a couple of more days and then try getting it off. Make a tool like a miniature tie rod remover and drive in behind the handle. I hope this works for you. If you want to heat it with your wife's hair drier may help also. Marv

[Ryan]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Good point, Dave, I forgot about the material. Just doesn't make sense as to WHY they would do that. Cost difference couldn't have been that big of an issue, could it?

I bet they are not taylorcraft specific but aircraft industry specific. For example the magnesium yokes can be found on other airplanes.

[Bruce Caldwell]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Good call Hank!

Bruce

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Right after the war Mag was the new "magic metal". We know better now. The weight savings is insignificant for the size of the parts. Reminds me of some engineers and Carbon Fiber now. What is new isn't always what is best. When I suggested wood for some parts at NASA some engineers looked at me like I had three heads.
There were experiments with end-grain Oak as a space craft re-entry heat shield (the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft may have actually used it!) Use the right material for the job.
I would think a hard rubber cast over a welded metal core would be a much better choice than anything actually used. If i was making them I would use a metal mandrel with a cast resin cover. I would need to research some materials to pick a good resin. You don't want anything that would break with sharp edges!

Hank

Then there would always be the legal issues of a material change. Can a handle be considered a part of the upholstery?

Re: Inside Door Handle

Good point, Dave, I forgot about the material. Just doesn't make sense as to WHY they would do that. Cost difference couldn't have been that big of an issue, could it?

Weight? There are 4 handles like this on a plane.

Perhaps got a good deal from the sub contractor that made the magnesium aileron hinges if they did all the magnesium parts there? Hinges, control wheels, door handles...

[M Towsley]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Good point, Dave, I forgot about the material. Just doesn't make sense as to WHY they would do that. Cost difference couldn't have been that big of an issue, could it?

Re: Inside Door Handle

Hi Marty,

Because it is magnesium it makes me think it was a t-craft only specific part.

Who would make a magnesium handle? It's an odd part for anything else.

I have two perfect ones. After I sell my t-craft I plan to sell them for a small fortune, I am keeping them now for spares.

Dave

[M Towsley]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I am somewhat amazed that a source for the door handle, (the typical BC-12 door handle), has not been found. The glove box door handle mystery, a 1940 Chevy truck ashtray handle, was finally solved and the elevator trim handle, Model A window riser, was also solved.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I actually think that is a nicer looking one than original (not trying to get a legalities discussion going here!) "MY interpretation" would be that the handle is part of the "cockpit interior" and doesn't have to be original (vs "upholstery"), but I would probably just not point it out to a Fed. ;-)

Hank

Also helps that the factory used SO MANY different control wheels, knobs and door handles through the production runs! AMAZING what you can see in the old factory photos that they made on the line when a part wasn't available. You just need to get Chets book and look really close at details.

[Bruce Caldwell]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I've been looking for inside door handles for about a year and finally decided to make my own.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Tried again yesterday to get a handle off. I have six that are stuck on metal doors. The things are a BEAST to get off! Next I will try grinding the welds as suggested. I REALLY don't want to destroy a door to get a handle!

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Inside Door Handle

I have molded several parts. This one would require an armature inside to carry the loads. Probably a metal core with a casting resin exterior. I may have to pick the worst condition door to take the handle from. It won't matter if the shaft is stuck in it when the mold is made, but it will probably tear the door up getting it free. The molded handles WOULD NOT be Magnesium. They would be a resin. I would need to do some studies to determine which type would stand up best.

Hank

Making a mold is a great idea. Do you have the ability to make a mold?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Inside Door Handle

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iTV3SqsS4l...0/DSCN3208.JPG

I used a 1/8th punch in my rivet gun to remove the roll pins. Put a tip/shoulder on the punch so it locates accurately in the centre of the roll pin (without expanding it). Once the pins are out, some release oil and heat from a heat gun should get it twisting and then off.

alternatively you can go inside and grind the welds off the end of the shaft, remove the bellcrank and slide the handle and shaft out and deal with the removal on the bench.

I seem to recall that the components were brazed, rather than welded. But I pretty much did what Scott describes as well. Some pictures here

These handles are magnesium.

[westernhorizon]

Re: Inside Door Handle

Making a mold is a great idea. Do you have the ability to make a mold?